Mac teleprompter for presentations and rehearsals
By Echolab · Updated 22 October 2026
Your Mac can be a useful place to rehearse a presentation before bringing it to a larger screen. Cue gives the spoken script its own space, with controls you can reach from your keyboard or trackpad.
Prepare the words between your slides
A good presentation script is more than a copy of the slide deck. Write the opening, the transitions and the closing thought. Keep facts and names that need to be exact, but leave space around examples you want to explain in your own words.
Use paragraph breaks to mark a change of thought. Read the draft aloud once, then remove phrases that feel awkward. Import a TXT file into Cue or prepare your script in your private Studio. Check that you have the final document open before rehearsing.
Set up your reading position
Place your Mac where you can glance at it without turning away from the audience or camera. Adjust the text size for your actual distance. The dark screen can help keep the interface unobtrusive, but remember that any bright text will still contribute light in a dark room.
For a practice run, concentrate on reading comfortably rather than fitting the entire script onto one screen. If you use reflective prompter equipment, check the mirror settings in that equipment before your first rehearsal.
Use the controls without breaking your flow
- Space: play or pause scrolling.
- Up / Down: move through the text by lines.
- Left / Right: move faster through the script.
- Trackpad: scroll to position the text.
Use playback shortcuts while the prompter or remote has focus, rather than while typing in an editor. Start with a comfortable speed and pause whenever you need time to explain a point. A rehearsal is a chance to find the pace, not a reason to rush to keep up with the text.
When someone else is operating
Pair another Cue device through Nearby if you want an operator to control the script. Verify the pairing and Local Network permissions before the session. Let the operator practice following your voice through one unscripted pause and one return to the text.
For a solo setup, keep the keyboard or trackpad in a position you can reach naturally. Run the whole presentation once, including any switch to slides or a demonstration, so you know which window has focus when you return.
Cue Pro is required for playback and remote control. Previously verified offline access is limited to seven days after verification and cannot extend past the subscription’s expiry. Check access and local scripts while you still have internet.